Apprenticeship Training Program

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The Apprenticeship Training Program, offered by the Preschool Services Department (PSD) of San Bernardino County, is a unique program that combines vocational training with on-site mentoring. In the spring of 2015, PSD entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department (TAD), recognizing that both departments could benefit by working together to support each other and address the needs of their shared clientele. TAD recognizes the Apprenticeship Training Program as a subsidized Welfare-To-Work activity, therefore qualifying participants to receive wages for their training hours. The program is designed to impart customized, high-impact knowledge along with pertinent guidance to assist participants (parents of children enrolled in PSD’s Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership, California State Preschool Program, and LIFT programs) in becoming fully competent in all aspects of their chosen career path. Participants can choose from the following career paths: Center Clerk, Custodian, Food Service Worker, or Teacher Aide. A total of 960 hours of on-site training/volunteer hours are required to complete the program, which can include up to 780 hours of verified related employment/work experience. The required hours of technical training are based on the minimum months of experience required to qualify for an entry-level position. Since the 2015/16 program year, PSD has assisted 24 participants in securing full-time employment.